Proposal requested for a worker radiation safety directive, addressing risks from ionizing radiation exposure by the Commission.
In a heated political debate, the question of whether to continue granting full welfare benefits to Ukrainians living in Germany or to reduce their payments to the level of asylum seeker benefits has emerged as a key issue.
Markus Söder, the leader of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), has called for the cessation of Bürgergeld payments to Ukrainian refugees, arguing that the current welfare system discourages qualified Ukrainians from seeking employment. He proposes that Ukrainians should instead receive only asylum seeker benefits, which are lower and often partially in-kind, to encourage labor market participation.
Similarly, Michael Kretschmer, Saxony's Minister-President, supports revising the citizen's income for Ukrainians to ensure fairness and sustainability, emphasizing that many recipients might not need full support and pointing out that employment rates for Ukrainians are higher in other European countries. He advocates a calm and balanced discussion to align benefits with actual need and labor market integration, expressing that equal conditions should apply to all, including Ukrainian refugees.
A new proposal by Labor Minister Bärbel Bas would mean that Ukrainians entering Germany after April 1, 2025, will no longer receive Bürgergeld but benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. This change aims at reducing federal expenditures by about €1.3 billion in 2026, although it is projected that additional costs for regional governments will offset most savings. The asylum benefits are lower (about €441/month) than Bürgergeld (€563/month) and come with fewer entitlements.
The debate reflects tensions between ensuring sufficient support for refugees displaced by conflict and promoting their swift integration into the German labor market. Söder and Kretschmer highlight that existing benefits may reduce work incentives, whereas government data suggest only minor influence of social benefits on Ukrainians' employment decisions. Ukrainian refugees in Germany have so far received similar support as unemployed German citizens, making Germany relatively generous compared to other EU countries.
In summary, the ongoing political debate revolves around the citizen's income for Ukrainians living in Germany, with Markus Söder and Michael Kretschmer advocating for changes, and a proposed government law that would alter the benefits for Ukrainians entering Germany after April 1, 2025. The debate is intertwined with issues of economic integration, fiscal responsibility, and refugee policy.
- The ongoing debate in German politics involves proposals to alter the citizen's income for Ukrainian refugees, such as the one by Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, which would change the benefits for those entering Germany after April 1, 2025, a move aimed at reducing expenditures and encouraging labor market participation.
- Markus Söder and Michael Kretschmer, prominent political figures in Germany, have advocated for modifications to the current welfare system, suggesting that Ukrainians should receive only asylum seeker benefits, to promote employment and ensure fairness and sustainability.
